Kohima, Nov 13 – The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) chief, Director General Anurag Garg, said at a conference that most heroin and other drugs entering India’s Northeast come from Myanmar. He blamed both insurgent groups and organised crime networks in the region for the rise in drug production and smuggling.
Garg urged the eight Northeastern states and West Bengal to work together to tighten enforcement and share intelligence. He warned that drug trafficking fuels crime, violence and strains doctors and hospitals, and that the problem is growing faster in the Northeast than in other parts of the country.
The 2019 survey by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) found higher drug‑use rates in the Northeast, showing that the problem is not just a law‑and‑order issue but a real threat to public health and national security. The NCB has already set up state‑level Anti‑Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) as the first line of defence against the drug menace.
During the conference, Garg outlined key topics for discussion: how to hit drug kingpins, improve inter‑agency cooperation, stop opium and cannabis cultivation, use digital tools for intelligence, and prosecute cases more effectively. He urged participants to build trust and teamwork to crack down on drugs.
Nagaland’s Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma, explained that the state’s long, porous 1,643‑km border with Myanmar – part of the Golden Triangle – makes it highly vulnerable. The border’s rough terrain and Myanmar’s political turmoil let traffickers move drugs into India with ease. He said the flow of heroin, locally known as “shaanflower” or “SF,” keeps organised crime and insurgent groups in the region alive.
Sharma called for a three‑pillar strategy: coordination, enforcement, and accountability. He pushed law‑enforcement agencies to upgrade surveillance, analyse call and internet data, monitor the dark web, track cryptocurrency, and use digital forensics. He suggested forming a dedicated Northeast Anti‑Drug Trafficking Agency to coordinate cross‑state intelligence, manage border security, and oversee rehabilitation programs.
The police chief also highlighted the need for better forensic labs, mobile units, and advanced tech like DNA profiling and mass spectrometry to speed up drug testing. He announced a new “Nasha Mukt Bharat Helpline and Reward System” – a 24/7 platform for anonymous tips, multi‑lingual support, and money rewards for information that leads to arrests or cartels dismantled.
Sharma pushed for legal reforms to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and argued that the solution lies in multi‑agency cooperation, targeted investment, and sensitivity to regional challenges. He called on all parts of government to join forces, work across borders, and stay committed to a drug‑free Northeast and India overall.
The conference brought together officials from the NCB, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and police departments from the eight Northeastern states and West Bengal.
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